Drapery support



June 18, 1963 L. s. ROBERTS 3,093,877

DRAPERY SUPPORT Filed Nov. 15, 1960 FIG.1 W +2 H62 H 3 l 17 INVENTO R Lewis S. Roberts BY W ATTORFI EY United States Patent Filed Nov. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 69,480 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-255) This invention relates to a drapery support adapted to be imbedded in the heading of a drape, and more particularly to a device adapted to impart reinforcement at the unsupported corners of a drape so as to prevent sagging or twisting of such drape.

It is well known in the art that varying degrees of support are necessary, especially at the heading of a drape in order to avoid unsightly drooping or sagging thereof, and to maintain it on a single plane. In spite of the varying reinforcements applied thereto, the problem of sagging and twisting corners, where support is often insufficiently extended, has continued to present an unsightly sag of the drape from its normal plane.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide reinforcing means adapted to impart rigidity to the heading of a drape, especially at the upper corners thereof.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a drapery support which may be concealed within a drape while imparting the necessary rigidity thereto.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drapery support which may be readily and easily mounted in the heading thereof without the necessity of employing any tacking or other securing operations.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a supporting device which may be positioned at a particular point along the heading of a drape and serve as a guide in the further construction of such drape.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects and advantages there is provided a generally clip-like member adapted to be incorporated within a drapery so that rigidity may be imparted thereto at any desired location. The support is further concealable within such drapery without the necessity of any securing operation and is of suflicient resilience so as to impart the desired body to a drapery heading.

The above and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those versed in the art from the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, wherein like characters designate like parts in the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the drapery supporting device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drapery supporting device as shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the component parts thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view of the present invention applied to a drapery as seen from the back thereof, in the initial stage of manufacture of such drape;

FIG. 5 is a view of the device of the present invention shown within a completed drape as seen from the front thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, the drapery support 10 of the present invention is fabricated of a substantially resilient material such as high density polyethylene, nylon, stainless steel or the like, in the general configuration of an H as illustrated in FIG. 3, and when folded back upon itself assumes the form of a substantially U-shaped, cliplike member as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The drapery support 10 is comprised of a pair of con- "ice gruent laterally extending central portions 11, 12, each of said portions having a pair of fingers 13, 14, and 15, 16 respectively, extending at right angles from either end of said central portions 11, 12. Joining each of said lateral portions 11, 12 at the top thereof, there is provided a transverse portion 17 so that said support 10 results in a substantially clip-like structure. Perforations 17a are provided in the transverse portion 17, thereby providing weakened portions to facilitate folding. The transverse portion 17 is of sufficient width to allow such support 10 to have inserted between its lateral central portions 11, 12 at least a double thickness of drapery stiffening material, such as buckram or the like. In order to facilitate ease in handling of the support 10, fingers 15, 16 may be slightly shorter in length than its corresponding pair 13, 14.

The use of the support 10 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 incorporated within a drape 40, a portion of which is shown. The side edge 41 of drape 40 is folded inwardly and stitched at 42 defining the side edge thereof. A strip of stiffening material 43, such as buckram, is stitched at 44 to an edge of the drapery fabric 40, such drapery fabric then being folded downwardly as shown in FIG. 5 to define the top edge of the drape. The stiffening material 43 may further be folded inwardly at 4-5 to provide additional stiffening to such drape 40. Since the side edge 45 of such stiffening material 43 is free of attachment to the drape 40 such edge 45 is inserted between central portion 11 of the device 10 with fingers 13 and 14, and central portion 12 with fingers 1'5 and 16, each set of such fingers being disposed on opposing surfaces of stiffening material 43. The side edge 41 is then stitched at 46 to form the completed top or head of such drape 40 to which pleating (not shown) or other adornments may be added.

It is to be particularly noted that the arrangement of the fingers 13, 14, and 15, 16 provide for an area therebetween in the upper corner of the drape 40 so as to perunit conventional hooks to be placed at the heading of the drape unobstructed by such support 10.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the support 10 of the present invention is utilized in a drape without the necessity of any additional attaching and/ or securing operations in order for it to maintain its proper position.

I claim:

1. A drapery supporting device comprising a one piece plastic H-shaped member, said member having a central cross member connecting opposed leg portions, said device folded midway of the cross member to form a substantially Ushaped clip-like member having a pair of congruent laterally-extending central portions, each of said lateral central portions having a pair of permanently secured fingers extending at substantially right angles at either end therefrom, a transverse portion at the fold line joining each of said lateral portions at the top thereof and there being perforations at the fold line.

2. A drapery supporting device according to claim 1 wherein said plastic member is a high density polyethylene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 339,320 Rheubottom Apr. 6, 1886 783,906 Spielman Feb. 28, 1905 1,255,413 Hallenbeck Feb. 5, 1918 1,474,190 Fox Nov. 13, 1923 2,004,231 Wasson June 11, 1935 2,606,042 Freber Aug. 5, 1952 2,818,871 Beaudry Jan. 7, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 172,100 Austria Aug. 11, 1952 

1. A DRAPERY SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING A ONE PIECE PLASTIC H-SHAPED MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL CROSS MEMBER CONNECTING OPPOSED LEG PORTIONS, SAID DEVICE FOLDED MIDWAY OF THE CROSS MEMBER TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED CLIP-LIKE MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF CONGRUENT LATERALLY-EXTENDING CENTRAL PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID LATERAL CENTRAL PORTIONS HAVING A PAIR OF PERMANENTLY SECURED FINGERS EXTENDING AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES AT EITHER END THEREFROM, A TRANSVERSE PORTION AT THE FOLD LINE JOINGING EACH OF SAID LATERAL PORTIONS AT THE TOP THEREOF AND THERE BEING PERFORATIONS AT THE FOLD LINE. 